A potential on-screen reunion between former UFC rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier almost happened.
Both men were two-division UFC champions and shared an intense animosity during their light heavyweight careers.
Cormier challenged Jones for the title at UFC 182 and defended his own title against him at UFC 214. Cormier lost both bouts, but the result of the second fight was changed to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for Turinabol.
Jones, now the UFC Heavyweight Champion and widely considered the greatest MMA fighter ever, once stated that Cormier was his primary rival and source of motivation.
Several years after their intense rivalry concluded, a Russian reality TV show that previously featured Nate Diaz and Jones as coaches attempted to recruit Cormier.
Daniel Cormier Declined Offer to Coach Against Jon Jones on Reality Show
On Monday, Cormier disclosed that he received an offer to be a coach opposite Jon Jones on a reality TV program named ‘ALF Reality’, based in Thailand.
The format of the show is comparable to the UFC`s own long-running series, ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, where aspiring fighters compete under the guidance of notable mentors.
Faced with the prospect of coaching opposite his long-time rival, known as ‘Bones’, Cormier chose not to accept the offer. The show subsequently secured Nate Diaz instead.
“I was offered to coach against him previously, but I didn’t accept it,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel.
Cormier has prior experience coaching ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, coaching opposite Stipe Miocic for ‘TUF 27’ in 2018, and more recently, while retired, alongside Chael Sonnen for the upcoming ‘TUF 33’ season.
Cormier Cites Inability to Fight Jones as Key Reason for Rejection
Cormier has been inactive in MMA for nearly five years, with his last fight being his heavyweight title bout against Stipe Miocic at UFC 252.
Although a potential fight wasn`t offered, the 46-year-old Cormier explained that he couldn`t agree to a reunion with Jon Jones, given their intense shared history.
“I can’t spend a month in Thailand coaching opposite Jon Jones,” Cormier elaborated.
“Especially when I can’t fight him anymore,” he added.
“He defeated me when I was actively competing. I’m not in a position to fight now. I’m 46 years old, after all.”
“While I might do it for fun, I’m not prepared to commit a month to being in Thailand for a reality show with Jones,” Cormier concluded regarding the offer.
